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Surkanda Devi Temple

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Located at an elevation of 9976 feet above sea level is a sacred temple in Uttarakand known as Surkanda Devi. This “Devi” temple is situated in the Tehri Garhwal district at a distance of 8 km from Dhanaulti and 22 km from Chamba. It also surrounded by beautiful dense forests, and provides for magnificent views of neighbouring cities such as Dehradun and Rishikesh. Furthermore, a popular festival called “The Ganga Dusshera Festival” celebrated at this temple annually during the months of May and June attracts a large number of tourists from across the country.

The ideal time to visit this temple is throughout the year since the climate is pleasant in all seasons with the temperature in general ranging from a maximum of 35 degree Celsius to a minimum of 12 degree Celsius.

b. How to reach Surkanda Devi Temple

Surkanda Devi Temple Map

1. By train:

The railway station closest to this holy site is located in Dehradun at the distance of 27 km. The Dehradun Railway Station is well connected to major cities in the country.

2. By road:

If you intend to drive to this temple then the ideal starting points would be New Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gurugram, and Dehradun.

Via New Delhi:

There are two routes from New Delhi to this temple, and they are via NH334 and via SH57.

Via Haridwar:

There are two routes from Haridwar to this temple, and they are via NH34 and via Ambala-Dehradun-Haridwar Road/Ambala-Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun- Rishikesh National Highway/Haridwar Road and Chamba Mussorie Road, and via NH7.

Via Rishikesh:

There are three routes from Rishikesh to this temple, and they are via NH34, via Ambala-Poanta Sahib-Herbertpur-Dehradun-Rishikesh Natinal Highway and Chamba Mussoire Road, and via Rishikesh Road.

Via Gurugram:

There are two routes from Gurugram to this temple, and they are via NH334 and via SH57.

Via Dehradun:

There is one route from Dehradun to this temple, and it is via Mussoorie Road and Chamba Mussoorie Road.

3. By air:

The nearest airport to this temple is located in Dehradun at a distance of 27 km. The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is well connected to major cities in the country.

c. Religious significance of the Surkanda Devi Temple

This temple is essentially among the 51 “Shakti Peethas” and according to a popular myth associated to the great Indian epic Mahabharata the father-in-law of Lord Shiva (i.e. father of Shiva’s first wife Goddess Sati) performed a yagna. It was then during this yagna when Sati realized that her husband Lord Shiva was not invited by her father King Daksha Prajapati that she killed herself by jumping into the fire of the yagna. In anger Lord Shiva carried the burning corpse of his wife Goddess Sati around the earth. And while doing so about 51 body parts of goddess Sati is supposed to have fallen at different locations in the Indian subcontinent including the site at which this temple was eventually built on.